Thailand’s ousted premier renominated to office

Bangkok, Sep 11 (DPA) Thailand’s largest political party Thursday nominated ousted prime minister Samak Sundaravej to retake the premiership after he was sacked just days ago by a court ruling.Samak, 73, has accepted the nomination, meaning that the end of Thailand’s political crisis is nowhere in sight, according to analysts.

People Power Party (PPP), which holds 223 of the 480 seats in the lower house, announced that it had nominated Samak to resume the premiership even though the Constitution Court Tuesday found him guilty of violating the charter by moonlighting as a TV cooking show host after he had been appointed prime minister on Feb 6.

Despite the ruling, which forced Samak to resign, the court did not deprive Samak of his member of parliament status, thus allowing him to be renamed prime minister if the majority of elected MPs vote for him.

“In principle, as the largest political party we have the right to nominate the next prime minister,” said PPP executive Surapong Suebwonglee, who is finance minister.

Samak has apparently accepted.

“He is willing to accept,” said PPP deputy spokesman Sutin Klangsaeng, after a group of PPP politicians called on Samak at his Bangkok home.

Parliament will vote Friday on whether to endorse Samak as prime minister again.